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The black and white portrait was given to a former Lord Provost of Glasgow in the 1930s by the tyrant himself in recognition for his work for Anglo-German cultural exchanges.

At the time of the discovery, museum officials had no idea how it had got there or why it was there.

The only clue to the find is contained at the back of the photo, which was signed and dated, reading “To Sir Daniel Stephenson, Best wishes Adolf Hitler, October 23, 1933".

Glasgow born Sir Daniel Stephenson was a politician, businessman and philanthropist, who served as Lord Provost between 1911 and 1914 and was former Chancellor of the University of Glasgow from 1934 to 1944.

The Stevenson building at The Univerity of Glasgow is named after Sir Daniel Stephenson (Image: Google Maps)

Stephenson advocated for and secured the Sunday opening of museums and art galleries in the city in 1898, introducing the city's free library service in 1899 and bringing the telephone service under civic ownership in 1900.

He was also instrumental in the creation of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music in 1929, the same year he was awarded the freedom of the city.

A committed internationalist, after leaving behind a political career Stephenson became a substantial financial benefactor to the university, helping to fund many overseas exchange scholarships.

The photograph is consistent with portraits which Hitler gave to visiting dignitaries, suggesting that Stephenson made a trip to Germany in 1933 as part of his education initiatives through the university.

The picture is believed to be in storage at Glasgow Museums' Resource Centre at Nitshill, having never been on general public display.